A Canadian air strike on Islamic State artillery in Iraq “likely” killed fighters with the extremist group but did not injure any civilians, a military official says.
Colonel Dan Constable, Commander of the Joint Task Force in Iraq, told reporters Thursday morning that the artillery piece had been firing at Iraqi troops near the town of Bayji, about 200 kilometers north of Baghdad, before it was hit. A brief video of the November 11 air strike, provided by the Department of National Defence, shows the target travelling on a road followed by a large explosion.
Col. Constable said the target, which may have been a howitzer, was initially spotted in a treeline where it was firing on Iraqi soldiers.
Canadian surveillance, refuelling and fighter aircraft have flown a total of 68 sorties since joining U.S.-led air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq about two weeks ago, Col. Constable said. Canada’s CF-18 fighter jets have completed two air strikes since the mission began.
Asked if the number of air strikes completed so far seemed low, Col. Constable noted that Canada’s contribution also includes refuelling and surveillance support. In addition, he said the coalition efforts so far have forced Islamic State fighters to change their tactics, leaving fewer obvious targets open to air strikes.
“I think it also highlights our rigorous and discriminating targeting processes that we’re using. You know, we’re very, very deliberate, very precise about making sure that we have all the information that we need to be confident that we’re reducing or eliminating any collateral damage possibility,” Col. Constable said.
He said one metric of success is the coalition’s success in limiting IS members’ freedom of movement in Iraq. “Over the long term, I think the measure of success is whether we’re able to continue to degrade and disrupt them enough to ultimately defeat” Islamic State fighters, he said.
The first Canadian air strike targeted construction equipment the military said was being used in an attempt to divert water from the Euphrates River. Islamic State fighters were aiming to force civilians and Iraqi troops onto roads containing improvised explosive devices.
“I am very confident to report that we have no reports of civilian casualties, no collateral damage in any of the two strikes,” Col. Constable said on Thursday.
He said there was no indication that any Islamic State fighters were killed during the first Canadian air strike but it’s “likely” that there were IS casualties as a result of the second.
Col. Constable said there is evidence that coalition air strikes are having an impact, with Islamic State fighters losing the ability to move freely in Iraq and changing their tactics to avoid detection from the air.
IS fighters have begun hiding their equipment in buildings or burying them in the sand, he said. They have also moved away from tanks and begun using smaller vehicles, making targeting them more difficult.
Canada has contributed a total of six CF-18 fighter jets, two CP-140 Aurora surveillance planes, a C-150 refuelling jet and about 600 Canadian Forces personnel to the mission, which is based in Kuwait. About 70 more Canadian special forces troops are also providing advice and training to security forces in Northern Iraq.
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Commentary by the Ottawa Mens Centre
Canada need to address its own problem with Terrorism at home in Ottawa.
Ottawa is the Capital of the Fassist Torture Program of promoting torture of
fathers.
At the head of this Ontario Government Funded Torture Program in Ottawa is
Marguerite Isobel Lewis, an Evidence Fabricating Lawyer with a pathological
hatred of Male Victims of Domestic Violence.
Marguerite Isobel Lewis is a Torturer of the Victims of Torture, an abuser of
Children who operates with the Blessing and Approval of the Torture Chambers at
161 Elgin Street Ottawa.
Marguerite Isobel Lewis is like the worst of the worst Child Abusers in canada,
a Lawyer for the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa where she uses Fabrication of
Evidence to Torture Victims of Female Torture including children.
Canadians need to be outraged that the Ontario Government specifically "Annoints"
the worst examples of humanity to be Judges of the Ontario Court of Justice
where they PROMOTE Violence towards Children and Fathers.
There no more a despised group in Society than the Collectively Corrupt
Fasscciest individuals called Judges of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
who PROMOTE violence, PROMOTE criminal offences against the administration of
Justice.
If you want to meet CRiminals, don't go to a Jail, visit the 5th Floor of 161
Elgin Street Ottawa where you will find those with a propensity for Torture and
Crimes against humanity that have a Charade of legality.
Take Terrorist Tim Minemma a judge who takes children from male victims of
domestic violence and then Rubber Stamps Fabrication of Evidence that he knew
was fabricated.
It's when Judges like Former CAS lawyer Tim Minemma personally fabricate
evidence and promote the fabrication of evidence by CAS lawyers like Marguerite
Isobel Lewis that you realize that we live in a FAssccist Society where the Rule
of Law does not apply if you are Male.
If you are a Male Victim of Domestic Violence you commit in the eyes of the
Ontario Judiciary, the Crime of Heresy, you see, in Ontario it is Illegal for
Fathers to be victims of domestic Violence.
Take Former CAS lawyer Jennifer Belishen, she TERMINATES children's
relationships with Fathers when she is shown incontrovertible evidence that a
mother repeatedly assaulted her own children and partners.
We live in a Fasscist Society where those in Absolute Power are the underbelly
of criminality and promoters of Torture not to mention crimes against humanity.
Canada is a Radical Fasscssit Society that is absent the Rule of Law for 50% of
the population. It operates by a Government Policy of promoting Violence against
Fathers with a Fasscisst Progrram of Gender Cleansing.
Canada is a Fassccist Lawless Society and it's worst criminals are not in jail.
You can visit one of Canada's worst , Marguerite Isobel Lewis, at Ottawa Gestapo
Headquarters located at 1602 Telesat Court Ottawa.
Ottawa Mens Centre